The grieving process is different for everyone, but there are some general signs that can help you know when you are recovering from grief.

Grief can be a lengthy process that lasts from anticipatory grief—the process that begins before an individual has died—to recovery. So how do you know that you are recovering? Listed below are some of the most common symptoms of recovery from grief. As you read the list, remember that recovering doesn’t mean that you will no longer feel the pain associated with the loss. It just means that you are starting to move forward with your life.

Signs that you are recovering from grief include:

Noticing your own recovery progress

Feeling more emotionally stable

Being able to laugh and joke with others

Sharing funny memories about the deceased without feeling sad or crying

Tackling holidays without feeling lost

Forgetting a ritual (e.g., visiting the cemetery) and not feeling guilty about doing so